Stay Tuned For The Holidays: A Crank! Sampler

Collecting some of the best music on the Crank! label, Stay Tuned for the Holidays brings 17 young bands together to showcase their talents. This album is actually very interesting, as it basically shows off the bands who have now been influenced by the alternative music rush of the '90s. That influence can be felt all over, as the spirit of bands from Unsane to King Missile to the Goo Goo Dolls hang over the proceedings. Being what it is, there are a few weak tracks, especially towards the middle. But several artists manage to impress with their songwriting skills. Some of the more notable tracks include Gloria Record's fuzz pop gem "Artic Cat," Far Apart's lurching emo rocker "Hazel," Icarus Line's brutal hardcore burst "We're Never Gonna Make It," and Christie Front Drive's angular noise ballad "Valentine." This is a pretty good compilation that features several young bands who could easily be the dreaded "next big thing." Still, it is always nice to be in on the ground floor, so anyone looking for a good collection of solid alternative rock songs from some promising young bands should look here. ~ Bradley Torreano|